Waymart graphic designer devotes free time to projects aimed at improving community

When she is not working as a graphic designer for Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Waymart resident Kristen Shemanski lends her talents to Scranton Reads and Leadership Lackawanna. MICHAEL J. MULLEN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kristen Shemanski lives a pretty sweet life.

Not only does the Waymart resident work at chocolate central as a graphic designer for Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, but she also gets to share her love for reading with the greater Scranton community.

Miss Shemanski is coming off her first time co-chairing Scranton Reads, the annual initiative that encourages area residents to read a specific book each fall. In 2013, she helped plan events and discussions around the story "The Red Badge of Courage" at several locations throughout the city and Lackawanna County's libraries.

"It's just great to see all the different parts of the community come up with different ideas for programs," she said.

A graduate of Western Wayne High School and Marywood University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in graphic design and photography, Miss Shemanski has a long history with art. The youngest of four children, she often found herself keeping busy with crayons while attending her siblings' activities as a kid.

"I was just always interested in art, even growing up," she said.

After graduating from college, Miss Shemanski worked in a few creative jobs in the area before ending up at Gertrude Hawk a little more than three years ago as a graphic designer.

"I do way more than design, but that is the focus of my position," she said.

In addition to designing packaging for Gertrude Hawk-branded chocolates and other brands under the company's oversight, Miss Shemanski helps coordinate photo shoots, creates fundraising brochures and signs for stores, and more. She also has expanded the company's presence on social media, adding Twitter and Instagram accounts to accompany the Facebook page, and she moderates those plus the company website.

"I like that it's something different," she said. "It's never the same thing every day."

Miss Shemanski also enjoys the freedom working for a company of that size provides. She can offer ideas and opinions, she said, and they are heard. The job has provided her with well-rounded training, too, she noted, crediting her superiors for teaching her.

Always learning

"I came here for design, but I've learned so much about retail and sales and e-commerce and social media," she said.

In 2008, Miss Shemanski decided to lend her design skills to Scranton Reads. The planning committee invited her to join the following year, and she has participated ever since. A lot of her friends also volunteer there, she said, and she has enjoyed the opportunity to meet others, too. Together, they have taken on the challenge of making people aware of the program as technology continues to change the way people read.

"We've been doing a lot now with the Scranton Reads website, with Twitter and Facebook to get the word out," she said.

Also last fall, Miss Shemanski joined Leadership Lackawanna, an educational program for area professionals who then participate in community-service projects as part of their training.

"I know a couple people who have gone through it, so I was excited," she said.

Miss Shemanski's Leadership Lackawanna group works to raise awareness for Dress for Success Lackawanna, which began as a previous Leadership Lackawanna project 15 years ago. To help the nonprofit mark that anniversary, the group is producing a marketing video about Dress for Success' work providing professional attire to women in need, and it is planning an event to recognize the nonprofit's volunteers.

The group hopes to make that an annual event, Miss Shemanski said, and it also wants to make people aware of the nonprofit's existence and mission.

"A lot of people don't know it's in the community," she said.

Open to other ideas

Her experience so far with Leadership Lackawanna has taught her about working with others and becoming more open to listening to their ideas, Miss Shemanski said.

"A big part of it is learning to deal with different people," she said, "because everybody has something to bring to the table."

Contact the writer: cheaney@timesshamrock.com, @cheaneyTT on Twitter

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Meet Kristen Shemanski

At home: A Waymart resident, she is the daughter of Stanley and Susan Shemanski and sister of Ronald, Randy and Katie Shemanski.

At work: Graphic designer at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates

Inspirations: Her parents and her siblings

Aspirations: To continue to be successful, to grow and to not be pigeonholed into one aspect of design

Diversions: Reading, crocheting and going to the gym

Aversions: People who complain

Quote: "Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."

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